Chapter Sixteen: Not of the Human Race—Your Pet
The starlight on the horizon was dim, and the moonlight sparse and hazy. Through the mottled shadows of the trees, two elongated figures could be vaguely seen weaving through the dense forest of Snowbound Mountain.
“Who told you to follow me?” Han Mo halted, his eyes sharp and cold as he glanced back, his expression icy and indifferent.
Behind him, a small pink bundle hidden beneath the heavy shade of the trees timidly stepped forward on tiny legs.
“I…I kinda got lost…” The little bundle’s voice was small and low, shoulders hunched in fear, looking utterly frightened.
The forest was filled with the howls and roars of vicious beasts. She was afraid that the moment she stepped down the mountain, she’d fall straight into the jaws of some ferocious creature for their midnight snack.
So, to be safe, she decided to follow him. She had noticed that no matter how fierce and arrogant these beasts were, when faced with the great serpent ahead, they would detour rather than dare approach.
“Keep going down, that leads to the foot of the mountain.”
“It’s too dark, I can’t see.” The little bundle spoke with feigned confidence, taking a step closer to him as she spoke.
Han Mo caught her small move and his lips twitched slightly with a hint of coldness.
Hmph, just an excuse not to descend.
“Can you take me to the bottom of the mountain? For the sake of the Blood Spirit Pearl flower I brought you from afar?”
Han Mo’s crimson eyes glimmered with icy chill as he looked down at her, his voice cold and severe. “What, trying to blackmail me?”
The little bundle quickly shrank her neck and waved her small hands in denial. “No, no, I didn’t mean that.”
“Hmph, good.”
“Really not,” she ran up to him, sincerity shining in her eyes. “I just don’t know what a Snow Lotus Pearl looks like and want you to help me recognize it.”
“No time.”
“Why are you like this…”
“Han Mo, long time no see.” Just as they were bickering, a pure white nine-tailed fox with bright, sharp eyes emerged from the forest.
The little bundle stared in surprise as the beautiful fox suddenly transformed into a pristine and dignified immortal.
“W-What is this… another beast or human in disguise?”
White Name looked at the little bundle’s wide-eyed stare and burst out laughing. “Hey, is this your new pet?”
“So small and skinny?”
“She’s human?”
He fired off three questions in quick succession, but Han Mo did not answer. At this moment, he only wanted to return to his dwelling and sleep in peace.
However, the little bundle smiled brightly and asked, “Who are you? Are you an immortal too?”
“Immortal?” White Name was clearly hearing this title for the first time and found it amusing.
“I’m not an immortal, I’m a demon.”
“A demon? So all shapeshifters are demons?”
“That’s natural. What about you?”
“Me?” The little bundle froze. She wasn’t a demon; she was of the ghost clan.
---
“Yeah,” White Name laughed as he stepped forward with a mischievous grin. “Judging by your tiny arms and legs, you must be just a few years old, right? Aren’t your parents worried about you wandering alone?”
“I’m not human,” the little bundle pouted, and besides, she was far from being a child now.
“Not human? Then what are you?”
“I am…” she was about to answer when someone grabbed the collar of her clothes from behind and yanked her up, tossing her behind him.
“What are you doing here?” Han Mo said sternly as he placed the little bundle behind himself and faced White Name.
White Name glanced at Han Mo, then looked at the little bundle behind him and winked. “What, so protective over your pet? Don’t I even deserve a word?”
“She’s not a pet. She’s my midnight snack tonight.”
“You’re going to eat me?!” Before White Name could react, the little bundle exploded.
She glared fiercely at Han Mo’s back, her voice both adorable and fierce: “I’m not human! I’m a ghost! You can’t eat me!”
“She’s a ghost?!” White Name was stunned, disbelief written all over his face. “How did you end up with a little ghost on Snowbound Mountain? Don’t you know what’s been happening with the Dragon Clan lately?”
Dragon Clan?!
What about the Dragon Clan?!
The little bundle’s eyes widened instantly, ears perked up, openly eavesdropping.
Han Mo frowned, hearing no rumors, and asked, “What’s going on with the Dragon Clan?”
“Oh, you really don’t know? The Dragon Clan’s Third Prince has a human with him. Recently, because of this human, they’ve been feuding with the Ghost Clan.”
“Feuding over what?”
“The human’s lifespan is ending. The King of the Underworld wants her to reincarnate, but the Third Prince refuses. He’s looking for some kind of Everlasting Flower to make the human immortal, to stay with him forever.”
“Absurd.” Han Mo snorted lightly. It was the first time he’d heard of a Dragon Clan member opposing the Ghost Clan over a mere human.
It wasn’t that the Dragon Clan couldn’t contend with the Ghost Clan, but such actions were utterly ridiculous.
Knowing it was impossible, yet still persisting—foolishness at its peak.
“Exactly absurd,” White Name agreed, then his expression turned somewhat sorrowful.
He continued, “Even though it’s ridiculous, my good father is rushing to find that Everlasting Flower for them. Isn’t that laughable?”
“Why?” The little bundle suddenly asked, unable to hold back her curiosity.
Han Mo darkened his face and turned away. The little bundle peeked from behind him, serious and attentive as she eavesdropped.
Seeing him turn, she quickly withdrew and stood obediently, head bowed, avoiding his gaze.
White Name laughed at their interaction and explained, “My father is the king of the demons. I’m his ninth son, but he doesn’t like me—he favors my elder brothers.”
“Why doesn’t he like you? Aren’t you his son too?”
White Name found a gentler way to reply, “Maybe… because I’m the one least like him, he doesn’t like me.”
“Not like him, so he doesn’t like you?” The little bundle pondered, lowering her head.
But she wasn’t like her father either.
---
Yet her father treated her well. Although often stern and quick to scold, he was always the first to appear when she was in trouble.
Only now…
Her father probably didn’t even know she was gone.
White Name shook his head softly. “I don’t know. Maybe that’s it.”
Since birth, his father had disliked him. No matter how hard he studied or practiced magic, his father never looked at him properly.
Meanwhile, his elder brothers, even by just standing there, received his father’s love and care.
The little bundle cautiously looked up at the great serpent before her, then quickly glanced at White Name and asked, “What does this have to do with the Dragon Clan?”
Her father’s dislike and his aid in finding the Everlasting Flower for the Dragon Clan—what was the connection?
“Because my father is allied with the Dragon Clan, and the Old Dragon King once helped my second and fifth elder brothers, my father helps the Dragon Clan.”
“I see. Does your fox clan have the Everlasting Flower?”
“No.”
“No?” The little bundle was stunned, then a new question arose. “Then how do you help the Dragon Clan?”
“Someone does,” White Name shifted his gaze from her to Han Mo standing before him.
He has it.
Moreover, his underground palace hides many rare treasures—pearls, flowers, medicines.
Han Mo snorted lightly and turned to look at him. “You want me to help them?”
White Name laughed and shook his head firmly, “No, it’s none of my business.”
The little bundle was stunned. What did that mean? Could it be… could it be that this great serpent has the Everlasting Flower?
“But her,” White Name glanced at the little bundle behind Han Mo and kindly warned, “Your little pet isn’t safe staying in our demon territory.”
“She won’t stay here, and she won’t be unsafe.”
She was from the Ghost Clan. If what she said was true, her status among the Ghosts should be significant.
White Name looked up, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
His father’s alliance with the Dragon Clan meant the Demon Clan was allied with the Dragon Clan. Now that the Ghost Clan and Dragon Clan were at odds, naturally, this little pink bundle would find no favor in the demon realm.
Perhaps someone might even use the chaos to hand her over to the Dragon Clan in exchange for rewards.
“I’ll take her away now,” Han Mo turned and, while the little bundle was still stunned, scooped her up and vanished into the dense forest of Snowbound Mountain.
White Name was shocked; it was the first time he’d seen Han Mo flee so quickly. He shook his head, smiled quietly, and said, “I was only speculating. You look tense…”
Alright, he too should depart.
It was getting late.